Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Human Milk Oligosaccharides: Factors Affecting Their Composition and Their Physiological Significance.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are elongations of the milk sugar lactose by galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, fucose; and sialic acid. The HMO composition of breast milk is strongly influenced by polymorphisms of the maternal fucosyltransferases, FUT2 and FUT3, and by the stage of lactation. Clinical observational studies with breastfed infant-mother dyads associate specific HMOs with infant gut microbiota, morbidity, infectious diarrhea, and allergies. Observational and basic research data suggest that HMOs influence the establishment of early-life microbiota and mucosal immunity and inhibit pathogens, thereby contributing to protection from infections. Clinical intervention trials with infant formula supplemented with the single HMO, 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL), or with 2 HMOs, 2'FL and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), demonstrated that they allow for age-appropriate growth and are well tolerated. A priori defined exploratory outcomes related feeding an infant formula with 2 HMOs to fewer reported illnesses of the lower respiratory tract and reduced need for antibiotics during the first year of life compared to feeding a control formula. In parallel, early-life microbiota composition shifted towards that of breastfed infants. Together, HMOs likely contribute to immune protection in part through their effect on early-life gut microbiota, findings that warrant further clinical research to improve our understanding of HMO biology and significance for infant nutrition.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app